The England u19s are in a spot of bother here...

It seems loads of ex pros are coming out and defending Harry Brook even though he lied to everyone, in the full knowledge of the Eng Management. And now big Baz is saying it is down we should move on. Ok. So let's put this in a different context.

Friday's u19 final is going to be a belting match. India are the favourites, but 2 teams in the final who have won all their matches says a lot about how good both teams are.

RIP John Virgo. Thanks for making it worth staying in on a Saturday night as a kid.

What an amazing last 15 overs from the Afghan u19 team. 310 is a brilliant score from where they were. Going to be another absolute belting game of cricket.

A genuine thriller, with heroic efforts from both sides. The two skippers #Peake and #Rew batted like giants - the former patently injured or cruelly cramped. Some nerves, some flawed execution but a hellofalot of good cricket too. #Eng win it. Congrats to all. #U19WorldCup2026

Forget the T20, the Eng Vs Aus u19 game is a nail biter. Oli Peake Vs Tom Rew. Absolute classi6

The line in there suggesting there are no significant performance benefits from a laminated bat will raise some eyebrows across the bat geeks I know. The MCC is probably right but it is a cracking myth buster. #yesiamabatgeek

I am delighted to share that we have a new edition of the Laws of Cricket. There are 73 changes, including a few pretty significant ones, which will come into effect in October 2026 www.lords.org/lords/news-s...

I appreciate lots of people on here are not in favour of private schools, but it is clear as yet another school closes and teachers lose their jobs the addition of VAT on school fees has been a massive policy failure.

So secretly I have watched quite a lot of the u19 world cup on sky. Firstly I have really enjoyed a lot of it. The England team is really well put together and bowls very consistently with some high class batters. There are a lot of very good players in all the teams to be honest.

Sri Lanka have taken this game much deeper than I expected.

Or maybe not... Strong start from Sri Lanka.

Remarkable from Brook (and Root.) Have Eng really got 100 more than a par score here? Amazing what happens when you build an innings rather than try to smash everything for 6 from ball one.

I keep hearing that Harry Brook has a really good cricket brain. What if, in fact, he does not have a very good cricket brain. Because that is firmly what the evidence is pointing too.

This. We are playing Pakistan and New Zealand in the summer, 2 very good test teams and then we tour SA, the world champions in the winter. Forget the ashes. Win the next game.

oh my days, this is best in class the beach is a superb touch www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/1...

The County Championship season is less than 100 days away. That's got to warm you up 🏏 #3feathers

This is still coming. While you are waiting... Here is Mark Ramprakash batting. Spot the differences to modern batting techniques www.instagram.com/reel/DS7JK_s...

At some point in the next few days I want to do a post or two on how and why the popular sidearm/dog thrower is actually ruining batting technique... Not sure when, but it is brewing.

By the way, I am in the camp of Key, Brendon and Stokes staying on in their jobs. I may not be in the majority, but I think Key is the most upfront director of cricket we have had and says it as he sees it and I think this group of payers have improved under the current leadership.

SEE IT, SLEIGH IT, SORTED!

So the inevitable has happened and Pope has been the sacrificial lamb to England's batting woes. I hope he gets a chance to mentally refresh and work a bit on his technique, to get that bat coming through a bit straighter. The continued non selection of Potts is something that I don't understand.

Worth repeating that England were at their best as a test and white ball team before the 100 and when there was lots of 1st class cricket being played throughout the summer. It is going to be impossible to replicate that success now.

From what I can tell with the interviews, they are really hurting and very definitely do care.

This review was written after the last #Ashes debacle. I fear it will remain relevant until the Test / red ball formats finally die. www.amazon.co.uk/Different-Cl... #CricketSky

Sorry I went on one. I didn't mean too. I am going to walk the dogs now to chill out. 😂

After this tour there will likely be another review. Which will likely recommend less first class cricket to be more competitive like Aus. This is absolute nonsense and should be ignored. I also think that Rob Key, Brendan McCullum and Stokes have done a decent job and that they should continue.

This is the darkest day. Bit by bit, it gets lighter from here. That’s what I keep telling myself as an England fan, anyway.

On the batting technique. I do think the dog chuckers are harming batting technique. They teach players to find a base & then use their hands to play the ball - planting their front foot. Rather than getting better aligned & having dynamic foot movement. This looks to be an issue for Eng batters.

Certainly the later. But I really think this team should have done better and is capable of doing much better.

Just on the cricket. The performance of the eng team is obviously massively frustrating. The reality is that the approach of the team has been to get the best out of the players they have. It is clear the batters aren't technically and mentally strong enough (Stokes/Root aside). This isn't new.

Had a really fun hour at Chase cricket today. Always good to go and visit a bat maker. Dan was very welcoming and the elder boy has a new wand to play with which is excellent news for him.

Gutted for Mark Wood. The call up if Matt Fisher seems a bit odd to me. But best of luck to him.

If I was a West Indian cricket fan I'd 100% be posting about how sad it is to see the decline of English cricket and how the world needs a strong England.

Well batted the windies. That is an absolute immense effort to bat out the day like that.

Josh Inglis the first English born player to take a wicket this Ashes series #AUSvENG

Rooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooot #cricket #TheAshes 🏏 🫡

@georgedobell.bsky.social #AskGeorge what is the point of having a team stuffed full of private school cricketers if they are all this stupid?

He's done it! There's no denying Joe Root's greatness. 40 tons, taking him past Kumar Sangakkara Batted beautifully in very tough conditions under the lights, his century coming off a flick down the leg side Can he keep going? Eng 256-7 #Ashes #AUSvENG

As close to a perfect fulfilled wish as you’ll ever see 😁

I would have taken that if you had asked yesterday. Then having checked the scorecard. After the third over I would have ripped your arm off for it.

The second test starts at 0400. I won't be getting up to watch (I didn't buy the subscription either) I will be waking up around 0600. The question is, what would good look like for an England fan after the first session? Probably around 100-2 and England batting. What do you think?

This Indian ODI no3 seems quite useful.

One of the very best.

Grim news about Robin Smith. Sending condolences to all who knew him. What a player he was 🥲

Desperately sad news about the passing of Robin Smith. An absolute hero of mine growing up. Loving to his family and friends at this time.

All that time and effort invested in Bashir. Then at the first opportunity Jacks gets picked. Extraordinary

So, my budget summary - a steady state in an unsteady world, which might just pass muster if communicated in that way as part of an overall vision, and which crucially would have to explain why so much is now spent on health, welfare, and pensions.